What Is a Dual Boiler Espresso Machine?

The term ‘Dual Boiler’ refers to an espresso machine that has two separate boilers, one for espresso extraction and another for steaming. Having a separate boiler for each task allows you to extract espresso and steam the milk at the same time, unlike a single-boiler espresso machine where there will be a short wait between each task.

This feature is normally available in commercial grade espresso machines, but there are a few options for home use. A dual-boiler espresso machine for home use is suited for some with a budget over $1000, as we’re trying to offer you the best value and features, we went on a hunt to find something that won’t break the bank but will give you everything you need for the perfect coffee at home.

The Best Dual-Boiler Espresso Machine for Home:

Our top pick for a dual espresso machine for home has got to be the Breville BES900XL, which is just a little over $1000. This semi-automatic espresso maker is packed with features that any home user would be able use, here are some of its features:

Another popular choice for a Grind and Brew coffee maker is the Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker, which is around $100 more expensive than the other two. Many people wonder if that much in extra cash makes a difference performance wise, or is just all just a hype? In this post, we’ll be comparing the YouBrew to the Cuisinart Grind and Brew to find out.

Brewing system doses the right amount of coffee with the right amount of water while heating water to the optimum temperatureBuilt-in 0.5-lb bean hopper and integrated burr grinderCarafe' setting with brew pause feature and makes up to 12 cups of coffeeSingle Cup' setting from regular to extra-large cup sizeAdjustable strength settings

The Cuisinart Grind & Brew is fully programmable with auto shut off/ timer options, double-walled insulated carafe that holds up to 12 cups of coffee and an automatic conical burr grinders with 8 oz bean hopper. The strength and grind are fully adjustable, so you’ll get your coffee as you like it.

The Breville YouBrew also has the same features of automatic grinder, a bean hopper with 0.5 lbs capacity and fully adjustable coffee strength and grind.

So, what’s the difference between the two machines?

The Breville YouBrew features a backlit LCD display that makes customizing your coffee a lot easier.

With the YouBrew, you have the option to brew from 2 cups and up to 12 cups. But you can also brew a single cup of coffee and select from 3 sizes, including a travel mug, which fits perfectly under the coffee dispenser. The Cuisinart only allows you to select from 2 to 12 cups.

The Breville YouBrew allows you to choose from 7 grind settings for any of your cup selections. You can also choose from 5 flavor strength (steeping time). The Cuisinart Grind and Brew features a grind selector but it automatically adjusts the grind to the amount of cups you’ve selected, giving you less coffee customization.

Which Should I Buy, The Breville YouBrew or Cuisinart Grind & Brew?

If you care about a truly customized cup of coffee, the YouBrew is what you want. The Single Cup brew feature is also another great plus, not many coffee makers offer that. The design and control panel of the machine is clear to read and easy to use. It offers great value for your money.

Breville YouBrew Thermal vs. Glass:

Convinced that the YouBrew is the right coffee maker for you? Great! The second decision you’ll have to face is between two YouBrew models: the BDC600XL (Thermal) vs. BDC550XL (YouBrew Glass). Both work almost the same way, the difference is only in the carafe material, double-walled insulated thermal carafe or a glass carafe with heating element on the machine. Read the difference between these two in detail in this post: The Difference Between the Breville YouBrew 600 vs 550

Breville YouBrew vs. Keurig Coffee Makers, Is There a Difference?

As Keurig is a popular name in the coffee maker market, people often try to compare the Breville YouBrew to Keurig coffee makers, but there’s absolutely nothing to compare. As of now (late 2014), Keurig does not have a coffee make with a built-in grinder. It does have many single-cup coffee makers, but it’s not the same as the YouBrew at all.

In a previous post, we have suggest a few excellent coffee makers with built-in conical burr grinders. We happened to mention the Breville YouBrew coffee maker in that post, but we also found that there are two available YouBrew coffee makers by Breville: BDC550XL and BDC600XL, which might confuse you. So we’re dedicating this post to telling the difference between these two models.

What Is The Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker:

Let’s start by telling you more about the YouBrew coffee maker in general, here are some of its amazing features:

A drip coffee maker with built-in conical burr grinder.

Automatically grinds as much coffee as needed for your required amount of coffee, ensuring the freshest pot of coffee, always.

Can accommodate a single cup or a travel mug as well as the included coffee pot.

LCD display allows you to easily program and select options.

Auto-start option.

What Is The Difference Between the Breville BCD550XL and BCD600XL?

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Feature

Brewing system doses the right amount of coffee with the right amount of water while heating water to the optimum temperatureBuilt-in 0.5-lb bean hopper and integrated burr grinderCarafe' setting with brew pause feature and makes up to 12 cups of coffeeSingle Cup' setting from regular to extra-large cup sizeAdjustable strength settings

Non-capsule system brews up to 9 different individual cup sizes (including 3 travel mug sizes) and up to a 12 Cup carafe7 adjustable strength and 5 adjustable flavor settings in single cup mode allow you to find the perfect match to your individual tasteBrew IQ doses the right amount of coffee with the right amount of water while heating water to the optimum temperature0.5 lb bean hopper and integrated burr grinderCarafe warming plate with auto shut-off after 2 hours

There are only a few differences between the two, but could amount to a lot depending on your use:

The BCD550XL, also known as the YouBrew Glass, has:

a glass 12-cup carafe.

a warming plate, which has a 2 hours auto-off or can be shut manually.

it does NOT allow you to select less than in the tank (you must brew a full pot or a single cup).

As for the BCD600XL, it has the following features:

A double-walled thermal carafe that can keep coffee hot for hours.

It does NOT have a warming plate (it’s not needed since the thermal carafe can keep the coffee hot for hours).

You can select to brew a single cup, full carafe or less (brewing full tank is NOT necessary).

Common Questions About The Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker:

What Accessories Are Included with the Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker?

Gold tone filter.

Cleaning brush for the coffee and grinder chute.

Can You Use Pre-Ground Coffee with the Breville YouBrew Coffee Maker?
Yes you can! Say you want to use a coffee blend different that the one you have in the bean hopper. You can do that by adding your ground coffee in the coffee basket and it will brew nicely. Just make sure you’re using a drip coffee ground (not a fine espresso grind, for example). Also make sure to select the pre-ground setting in the machine.

What Is The Difference Between Choosing Grind Settings and Flavor Settings?

Grind settings in this machine will refer to the amount of coffee brewed, while Flavor settings will refer to how strong the coffee is. The stronger the flavor you choose, the more the coffee will steep, therefore, producing a stronger flavor.

Does The Breville YouBrew Require Paper Filters? What Kind?

No, the machine already comes with a gold-tone filter. However, you can use a paper filter if you prefer.

Is The YouBrew Programmable?
Yes, both the BCD550XL and BCD600XL are fully programmable.

Which Is Best To Buy, The Breville YouBrew BCD550XL or the YouBrew BCD600XL?

To answer this question you have to decide on:

how long you want to keep your coffee hot? The BCD600XL with thermal carafe should keep your coffee hot for up to 2-hours, which is something the BCD550XL does NOT offer.

With the BCD550XL, you have to option to brew a single cup or a 12-cup carafe.

With the BCD600XL, you can brew a single cup, pause a brew whenever you want or brew a full carafe.

Given that the price difference is around $40 or so, I personally would opt for the BCD600XL as it offers better brewing options.

When it comes to choosing between a regular espresso or an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, which should you go for?

First of all, it will come down to your budget. Espresso machines with built-in grinders are most expensive than one without a grinder. But if you’re planning on buying an espresso machine as well as a conical burr grinder, it will sum up to the same amount as machine with built-in grinder.

But having a machine with the grinder built in automates the process of grinding and brewing. If you choose an automatic espresso machine, you’ll be able to have the perfect cup of coffee with a push of a button, the machine will automatically grind the perfect amount of coffee and brew it right away.

Best Espresso Machines with Built-In Conical Burr Grinders:

Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine:

15 bar pump pressure with 1600 watts thermocoil heating system.

Stainless steel conical burr grinder with 1/2 lbs bean hopper.

Adjustable coffee grind options.

Semi-automatic machine allows you to control the pressure, temperature and many more features.

Built-in tamper and portafilter cradle.

67 oz removable water tank.

Purge function automatically adjusts water temperature after steaming for perfect extraction of espresso.

Coffee is an essential part of most people’s daily routine and having the ability to make a great cup of coffee at home is essential. With a coffeemaker that will grind beans and brew fresh coffee, you can not only save money but also enjoy a truly fresh cup of coffee every time. Here are three of the best coffeemakers available:

Brewing system doses the right amount of coffee with the right amount of water while heating water to the optimum temperatureBuilt-in 0.5-lb bean hopper and integrated burr grinderCarafe' setting with brew pause feature and makes up to 12 cups of coffeeSingle Cup' setting from regular to extra-large cup sizeAdjustable strength settings

Best Material and Functionality: The Breville YouBrew has the best brushed stainless steel body and double-walled thermal carafe. The display is the largest and is nicely lit with blue LED backlight, making it very easy to operate.

Bean hoppers: The Cuisinart and the Breville YouBrew have the largest 8 ounce bean hopper (0.5lbs), while the Capresso has a 6 ounce bean hopper.

Grind settings: Breville has 7 grind settings, 5 for the Capresso and 4 for the Cuisinart.

Brewing options: The Breville YouBrew allows you to a single-cup or up to 12 cup carafe (you can choose less than 12 cups). With the Capresso , you can choose from 2 to 10 cups. The Cuisinart requires you to brew a full tank all at once, so if you fill it up with 6 cups worth of water, that’s what you get. If you fill it up with 8 cups worth, and even if you choose to brew 6 cups, it will still brew the full tank, which is a major con for many people.

Which Of These Grind and Brew Coffee Makers is Best To Buy?

In this case, you really get what you pay for. The Capresso and Cuisinart (under $200) give you great features, but not as good or as advanced as the Breville YouBrew, which is priced over $200, but worth every penny. Take the time to really think about your use and what you really need in a coffee maker, if it’s worth it for you to pay a little extra for some cool features, the Breville YouBrew will be a great choice.

Breville YouBrew 550 vs. 600, What Is The Difference?

we’ve pointed the difference between these two models in a previous post which you can read by clicking here. In a nutshell, the difference is:

the YouBrew 600 features a thermal carafe, brews a single-cup or your cup selection.

YouBrew 550 has a glass carafe with warming plate. Can brew a single cup or a full tank only.